In the days after her daughter, Darian Locklear of Brighton, and Julianna Ward-Brown of Howell were killed in a crash on their way to hockey practice in Lansing, Regina Locklear received a text from a girl who used to live in Brighton.

The girl had moved out of state, but texted to tell Locklear that Darian was her only friend.

"I just cried," Locklear said. "I didn't even know her."

The girl was the first of many people to come forward. In the coming weeks, Locklear was told of her 16-year-old daughter's impact and humble giving countless times.

Julianna Ward-Brown and Darian Locklear, Meijer AAA Hockey 16U teammates and local high school students, were killed in a crash on Interstate-96 on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.(Photo11: Submitted)

A former colleague told her that he found a suicide note in his daughter's room. When he approached his daughter about it, the girl told him that Darian was the only reason she didn't attempt to harm herself.

Others were letters and cards from kids that Locklear had never met.

Three months later, her legacy lives on through the "Kindness is Beautiful" movement.

Locklear and her good friend, Amy Vandemergel, say it is a concept that embodies Darian's spirit.

As part of the movement, black bracelets are handed out at local high schools and middle schools. Collaborating with her company, Cooper Standard, Locklear is helping to build a playground for the HAVEN shelter in Pontiac in Darian's name.

"It will never bring her back. If something good comes out of it ... if it makes them (the girls) feel good," Locklear said.

KINDNESS IS BEAUTIFUL

Locklear said Darian was never bullied but went through a rough period after being ousted by a group of girls she had been close with.

"At that point, she was like, 'I don't need a bunch of friends,'" Locklear said. "I told her she was right, she just needs one good friend."

That is when she met Vandemergel's daughters, Ashlyn and Lexi.

Ashlyn, Lexi and Darian's other friends have been handing out hundreds of black rubber bracelets with the words "FLY HIGH DARIAN" and "KINDNESS IS BEAUTIFUL"

What started out as keepsakes for family and close friends has blossomed into a movement.

Kindness warrior bracelets are gathered before being passed out at Brighton High School.(Photo11: Courtesy photo)

The bracelets have been passed out at Brighton High School, where Darian attended, and Howell High School, where Julianna attended.

"When Darian and Juliana died in the accident, a lot of people were asking themselves, 'why, why, why?'" Locklear said. "Ithit home for a lot of people. You have Howell and Brighton high school impacted by it. I think that these girls want to do something."

She first ordered 300 bracelets with some extras for Darian's friends to hand out at Brighton High School to anyone they thought was showing kindness. Within an hour, they were gone.

Vandemergel said her daughters give a person a bracelet with a couple extra and tell them, "You are always kind and Darian would want you to have this. Would you pass this along to someone you think is kind?"

She said the main goal of the project is to remind kids to be nice, as the littlest things can hurt someone's feelings, and one kind word can turn someone's day around.

Locklearhas ordered an additional 1,100 bracelets. She has been contacted by students, parents and teachers across the state.

"Maybe we can get bracelets on the wrists of every student of every high school in the state by the time she would have graduated."

Darian was a junior at the time of her death; she would have graduated in 2019.

Locklear says she doesn't know the movement will change the way girls treat one another in high school, but "if it helps one person think about the way they treat each other, then it's worth it."

Roses are placed near the tree planted April 21, 2018 in honor of Darian Locklear.(Photo11: Courtesy of Amy Vandemergel)

TOUCHED LIVES EVERYWHERE

Nearly 50 people watched as a Red Maple tree dedicated to Darian was planted near the Imagination Station in Brighton on Saturday morning.

Of those gathered, most were Darian's family and friends along with city staff and Brighton Mayor Jim Muzzin.

"It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do because of the emotion of the family but it was rewarding in a way … to help the family," Muzzin said.

"It was very emotional for the family and I think at the same time it was a way to celebrate, " he said. "I’ve never lost a child."

Below the tree sits a plaque donated in part by the Bulldog Boutique.

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Darian Locklear’s parents gather with family and friends as a tree is dedicated to their daughter in downtown Brighton.
Amy Vandemergel, Courtesy

It reads:

She took our breath away with her bashful smile

She could make us laugh with a playful dance or her clever smile

She was kind to everyone and always there

Although she didn't know it, she touched lives everywhere

She is missed so deeply as we remember her love

She now dances with angels in Heaven above

Her family and friends placed a bouquet of roses next to the plaque and tree. In the days following, kids' chalk drawings surrounded the tribute, an outpouring of love from kids who Darian loved so much.

Darian Locklear's parents and brother stand with the plaque donated in her honor(Photo11: Courtesy of Amy Vandemergel)

Locklear said she got a call from the president of North America for her company, Cooper Standard, the day after Darian died.

She said he knew how much Darian loved children and told her that the company thought of something they'd like to do in honor of her daughter.

"He said, 'We have been kicking it around and we haven't done it yet. We want to build a playground for the HAVEN.'"

The family raised $40,000 in a couple weeks and the Cooper Foundation matched the donation. Just like that, there was $80,000 for a playground.

Led by Cooper Standard, Locklear and 70 volunteers will complete the playground for the HAVEN shelter on May 4.

Once completed, a large sign will greet visitors: "Darian's playground"

FLY HIGH DARIAN

Locklear said she just got another text from a girl last week.

"She goes to Brighton High School, she was sexually assaulted. When she came out and told people about it, all her friends turned on her," Locklear explained. "She said the same thing – Darian was her only friend."

She said she knew her daughter was a kind and caring person but she had no idea about everything she was doing without telling anyone.

"It is crazy because she was just a silly 16-year-old girl. She didn't know she had that kind of impact on people. She was extremely humble."

Darian and Julianna were remembered at a basketball game between Brighton and Howell:

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Students Darian Locklear and Julianna Ward-Brown were remembered at a rivalry basketball game between Brighton and Howell.
Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

HOCKEY AMBITIONS

When Darian died, a boy from her school started a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral costs.

Darian played travel hockey, was a right wing, and dreamed of playing hockey in college.

Because of that, Locklear said her family decided to turn the money donated through the GoFundMe page into a hockey scholarship fund for female hockey players in need.

She said the hockey community across the state and even from Canada came together after hearing about her death.

"She received flowers from the Detroit Red Wings. Others sent flowers and donated to the fund," Locklear said. "The fund grew to $35,000 in a week."

She said they plan to offer up to three grants every year that range from $1,000 to $5,000 through USA Hockey.

The Locklear family plans to offer the grants as long as they have the resources to do so.